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Astros place Feldman on 15-day DL

Righty expected to miss two starts after experiencing biceps discomfort

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Feldman's strong start 1:16

4/11/14: Scott Feldman throws seven scoreless frames, allowing just two hits while striking out three

By Brian McTaggart
/
MLB.com |

SEATTLE -- Astros right-hander Scott Feldman, who's been one of the team's biggest bright spots so far this season, is expected to miss two starts after being placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday with biceps tendinitis.

Feldman was scheduled to start on Tuesday against the Mariners at Safeco Field, but right-hander Collin McHugh will be recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take Feldman's spot in the rotation. Feldman was in Houston on Monday being examined by team medical director Dr. David Lintner.

"It's nothing too concerning," Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said. "We debated putting him on the disabled list, but considering he's going to miss a start [Tuesday], we kind of want to be cautious with any discomfort. We're going to skip his next start [following Tuesday] as well, and given we have two days off next week, it made more sense to put him on the DL."

Feldman, signed to a three-year, $30 million deal this winter, is 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA in four starts. He was 1-0 with a 0.44 ERA through three starts before giving up nine hits and four earned runs against the Royals on Thursday in Houston.

"When he was throwing between starts, he felt a little bit of discomfort, so we were very cautious with him and brought him to Houston today to see Dr. Lintner," Luhnow said. "We made the determination that was the best course of action not to start tomorrow and probably take another start off to recuperate."

Feldman said his velocity has been down, but his arm felt fine, so he didn't think it was an issue. But his shoulder didn't quite feel right while playing catch in the three days following his start Thursday against the Royals, so he knew it wasn't normal soreness.

"I was pitching fine, so I wasn't overly concerned about anything," Feldman said. "My arm felt fine. After the last game, it just never recovered like it had been. I guess coming down here and getting some treatment from the doctors is probably the best way to go about it. Going on the DL is not what I wanted to do, but sometimes you've got to do what's best for the team, and hopefully, we'll get this thing right and be back as soon as possible."

Feldman had biceps tendinitis with the Rangers in 2005, and he was able to get some rest and come back healthy and effective.

"I'm not worried about it," the 31-year-old said. "It never bothered me again when I got it taken care of, and that was nearly 10 years ago."

McHugh (0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in four games, including two starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City), was scheduled to follow Nick Tropeano in Oklahoma City's tandem-starter rotation Monday. McHugh threw on Thursday in Colorado Springs, and he allowed one run and three hits with no walks and three strikeouts in five innings.

McHugh appeared in at least two games with five different teams with two organizations last season. He spent the majority of 2013 in Triple-A with Las Vegas and Colorado Springs, going a combined 5-4 with a 3.69 ERA in the PCL. He began last season in the Mets organization, then was traded to Colorado on June 19 for outfielder Eric Young Jr. The Astros claimed McHugh off waivers on Dec. 18 from Colorado.